Like most of his teammates, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Doug Legursky, a former Woodrow Wilson and Marshall standout, was in awe of his Super Bowl XLIII ring.

Legursky, a practice-squad member last year, received his ring in a ceremony at Heinz Field June 9.

“Like everyone else, I opened it up at the ceremony and looked at it,” the former Hunt Award winner said Monday. “Then I got home and I opened it up and looked at it for a long time.”

And why not? There was certainly enough to look at.

Six round, brilliant cut diamonds surround the Steelers’ logo — the hypocycloid logo that signifies NFL championships, this being the organization’s league-record sixth Super Bowl title. The ring has 63 diamonds, seven surrounding the logo in a football shape, recognizing the team’s seven AFC titles. The conference and league crests are represented, along with the final score of the epic win, Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23. The ring weighs 3.7 ounces, and the 63 diamonds check in at 3.61 carats.

Ring?

More like a glove.

“It’s big,” Legursky said. “And it’s awesome.”

The Beckley native readily admits, though, that he wishes he could have actually played in the big game. While the practice squad did travel to the Super Bowl with the team, he didn’t dress for the game, obviously.

Despite its gargantuan dimensions, there is a certain emptiness about the ring, typical of a player that is just off the cusp of making the roster.

“Every player wants to make the 53 (man game-day roster),” Legursky said. “And if you make the 53, you want to be a starter. Being on the practice squad, you feel a certain disconnect. You don’t even travel with the team. Then, at the beginning of the week, you go back, reconnect, and do the whole process again.”

Still, Legursky knows he helped the team in its march to the title.

And, in turn, it helped his chances of making the squad this year. He is currently No. 2 on the depth chart behind veteran Justin Hartwig. The Steelers also drafted A.Q. Shipley of Penn State in May.

“Being here, the organization knows what I can do,” Legursky said. “That’s been the way this team operates. They like to keep guys that have been with the organization. My job now is to go out and show them that I deserve a spot on the 53.”

So now it’s a numbers game.

The Steelers have 13 offensive linemen who will report to camp next month.

Ten will make the roster — nine on the 53 and one on the practice squad.

Most, like Legursky, can play multiple positions. Legursky has been working at center and has also played both guard spots.

Plus, the team also has tape of Legursky from last year’s preseason action.

And they had to like his first NFL play, when he pancaked a Philadelphia Eagles nose guard.

“He came up across my face, and, with the adrenaline rush that goes with it being my first play, I just got low and drove as hard as I could,” Legursky recalled. “I remember when I was getting off of the guy, he punched me in the groin.”

Welcome to the NFL, kid.

Oh well, the payoff in the end, diamonds and all, was well worth the shot.

As for the ring today?

“It’s in a lock box,” Legursky said. “I haven’t looked at it for a while. Right now my focus is to make the team and to try and win a ring as a member of the 53.”

I have to think there is only one roster spot is between Shipley and Legursky. The loser to the PS. Of course, both could not make it with Tomlin deciding to use Stapleton as the back-up.

i wouldn't pencil in urbik as the starter just yet.

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No, I don't think that would be wise either. Although I give Urbik a very good shot. Back to the point at hand. I think it is possible that Stapelton could back-up center while continuing to start at guard if neither Legursky or Shipley impress. Urbik or Essex could slide into Stapelton's guard spot if he had to slide into Hartwig's center spot. I'm not saying this is a likely scenario, but it is possible.

No, I don't think that would be wise either. Although I give Urbik a very good shot. Back to the point at hand. I think it is possible that Stapelton could back-up center while continuing to start at guard if neither Legursky or Shipley impress. Urbik or Essex could slide into Stapelton's guard spot if he had to slide into Hartwig's center spot. I'm not saying this is a likely scenario, but it is possible.

I think you are absolutely correct with this scenario. As much as I am hopeful that Urbik can start in week 1, I think it may take a month before he gets his shot to start. He is also getting some reps at center for "position flexibility" purposes.

As for Legursky, I am hopeful that he makes the 53 man roster, but in preseason last year he looked absolutely lost. He has the size, strength and quickness to play center for us. I just hope he has developed more in his season on the PS.

Whoever here thinks that Urbik will start over Stapleton is right only if Stapleton gets injured. Stapleton is no slouch even though he is undersized. Urbik has a long way to go before he can start at guard. Legursky may start at guard before Urbik because he knows the system and Urbik is still in learning mode.